Measuring height with autistic child

[andee515]

I just found out we have another issue I hadn't thought of before. My 3yo, autistic son is right about 40-41" tall, the reason I say about, is the last several times we have tried to measure him he gets very upset, because, I guess, he feels he is being confined. He just sinks to his feet and starts crying if I try to hold him up to measure.

How do they measure kids at the parks (please tell me it is with a laser beam from thirty feet away...lol). Maybe we can get something similar and have his sisters do it over and over and try to make it a game.

He really enjoys rides and are three kids are finally big enough, so we can go on things as a family, any suggestions would be appreciated

 

[LilyWDW]

I believe it is a T shaped wooden item. The child's head needs to hit the cross bar to be allowed to ride. They are VERY strict about this and if they can slip something between the child's head and the bar, the child is not allowed on (I have read many a post about that on the Theme park Boards).

 

[HappyCamperToo]

Just a thought, but do you think they would accept a signed note from your son's doctor on a prescription pad stating his height?

 

[ireland_nicole]

I don't think the dr's note would work; but you could practice with him between now and then and create a ritual for it. That might help.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't think the dr's note would work; but you could practice with him between now and then and create a ritual for it. That might help.

other people have tried the doctor's note and it was not accepted. It's worth a try, but may not be allowed. It would for sure not be accepted at individual attractions.
I would suggest you go to Guest Relations, explain your situation and see if they have anything to suggest.

Other people have posted success with a ritual like ireland_nicole mentioned. A ritual along with a measuring social story seemed to work well for some.

 

[andee515]

Thank you for the suggestions. I am going over to the hardware store today and try to create something to practice with. The measuring stick they use is a wooden T, Correct?

Any other suggestions would be appreciated, whats worked for you?

 

[robinb]

Here is a photo from Rock and Roll a few of years ago:

IIRC, some are metal and some are wooden. In addition, since he seems to be really close they may measure him twice: once at the start of the queue and another time right before stepping onto the ride.

 

[SueM in MN]

Here is a photo from Rock and Roll a few of years ago:

IIRC, some are metal and some are wooden. In addition, since he seems to be really close they may measure him twice: once at the start of the queue and another time right before stepping onto the ride.

WOW! Your DD is getting big.

Besides some being metal and some wooden,but they all have the T shape somehow like the picture robin posted.
They all look a little different because they are themed to the attraction. There is usually one outside where you can stand for a while and check it out before getting measured by the CM.

I have some pictures of measuring sticks too, but none are downloaded. I got a new computer for Christmas and I still have all my pictures on the old computer.

 

[brergnat]

We had the same problem with our ASD son. He is 5 now and just barely 41". Since we go to Disneyland often, I knew that once he hit 40", he would have to start being measured.

We made a game at home called "How tall is it?". I gave him a measuring tape (the hardware store kind that retracts) and let him go around the house measuring different items (the kitchen table, the couch, coffee table, his bed, his toys, etc.). I showed him how the number on the tape measure is called "inches". He had a blast going around the house and calling out how many inches everything was. I let him do this for a couple days.

Then, I said "Let's see how tall Mommy is!" He tried to "measure" me, but he couldn't reach to my head. So, I showed him how, if I stand up REALLY straight and tall, like a tree, and use a pencil, I can mark my height on the side of the doorjamb. I demonstrated. Then, I helped him measure up to the mark. He loved it! HE then said "Let's see how tall Max (that's him) is!" So, I made him back up against the doorjamb, and made him show me how straight and tall he could stand. He tried to go on his tiptoes, and I said "NO..that's cheating!" So, I told him "heels down and super straight standing", and he let me mark his height, and then he couldn't WAIT to measure and see how tall he was. Once he was 40", I told him that he was a "BIG BOY." Every couple weeks, we do the "Let's see how tall Max is" routine at home, to see if he's grown. He likes seeing the notches move higher.

The first time he was measured at DL was for BTMRR. I excitedly said to him "Look...look at that measuring stick...let's see how tall you are. Do you think your head will touch the top?" He RAN to it and couldn't wait to see if he was "tall enough".

Never had an issue since then. He still loves to see how tall he is. I routinely take him up to th 42 or 48" rides, and say "Let's see if you're tall enough for THIS ride....No not yet!" He thinks it's a game.

 

[Minniemama350]

I know we're dealing with legality on Disney's side, but I wonder if you could get them to let you measure him in front of them at guest services and have them make that your "what you need" on a GAC(not sure I have the ccorrect letters here--stayed up late). Then you show your pass when you go to ride? You would of course have to call guest services ahead of time to see if they will do this and so that all cm's are in the know. Practicing with a Social story is definitely better if it works, but if it doesn't...it was just a thought. I have not actually done this.

 

[Kuffam]

I know we're dealing with legality on Disney's side, but I wonder if you could get them to let you measure him in front of them at guest services and have them make that your "what you need" on a GAC(not sure I have the ccorrect letters here--stayed up late). Then you show your pass when you go to ride? You would of course have to call guest services ahead of time to see if they will do this and so that all cm's are in the know. Practicing with a Social story is definitely better if it works, but if it doesn't...it was just a thought. I have not actually done this.

I've seen other theme parks do the same thing. They have "Child measuring centers" and kids are given color wrist bands based on their height. We made a game of it and were all measured and DS did great.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I know we're dealing with legality on Disney's side, but I wonder if you could get them to let you measure him in front of them at guest services and have them make that your "what you need" on a GAC(not sure I have the correct letters here--stayed up late). Then you show your pass when you go to ride? You would of course have to call guest services ahead of time to see if they will do this and so that all cm's are in the know. Practicing with a Social story is definitely better if it works, but if it doesn't...it was just a thought. I have not actually done this.

There is no facility at any of the Guest Relations Offices for doing measurements. Also, some of the GROs are outside the park and you are talking through a window to the CM. And as this is not something that is normally done, CMs would not be expecting this on a GAC and probably would not beeive it.

I've seen other theme parks do the same thing. They have "Child measuring centers" and kids are given color wrist bands based on their height. We made a game of it and were all measured and DS did great.

Unfortunately parents will cheat! I have a nephew who worked at a park where they tried this and the parents would take a wristband off a taller child to put it on the smaller one, and then take the taller child back for another wristband as if it were their first time. These are the same ones who will use platform shoes for their kids.

The safety is really based on the body size; total height is just a metric.

 

[SueM in MN]

There is no facility at any of the Guest Relations Offices for doing measurements. Also, some of the GROs are outside the park and you are talking through a window to the CM. And as this is not something that is normally done, CMs would not be expecting this on a GAC and probably would not beeive it.


Unfortunately parents will cheat! I have a nephew who worked at a park where they tried this and the parents would take a wristband off a taller child to put it on the smaller one, and then take the taller child back for another wristband as if it were their first time. These are the same ones who will use platform shoes for their kids.

The safety is really based on the body size; total height is just a metric.

I have to agree with both things.
Someone had asked about getting it marked on a GAC before and posted they were told no.
WDW had also experimented with a central measuring spot and that was exactly what some people did. THey got the older child measured, got the wristband out and transferred it to the smaller child.

 

[hookedup]

My best advice is to practice at home and make up a social story to go along with it. There are parent's who cheat and Disney has a lot of liability on the line so your child will get measured a lot. Once my ds got the hang of it he was a professional. I think making one using a T square is a great idea.

 

[momejay]

I went through this a few years back. Since you are probably getting a GAC, have them measure your child & put it on the GAC. Years ago, my DS was given a plain plastic braclet with his height written on it with a sharpie marker. We measured him once during the whole trip. Of course, he is 13 & is 6 foot tall & weighs 180 lbs now so it isn't a problem.
My DD used to think she needed to be shorter than the measuring stick so she would hunch herself over or bow her head to make herself shorter. She wasn't much of a thrill ride kind of girl so it wasn't a problem.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I went through this a few years back. Since you are probably getting a GAC, have them measure your child & put it on the GAC. Years ago, my DS was given a plain plastic braclet with his height written on it with a sharpie marker. We measured him once during the whole trip. Of course, he is 13 & is 6 foot tall & weighs 180 lbs now so it isn't a problem.

The Guest Relations Offices are not equipped to measure heights. And they do not place any height on the GAC. And CMs do not expect to see a height on the GAC.

To the best of my knowledge neither this procedure, nor using a wristband, have ever been done at Disney Parks. One of the reasons is people will cheat!